Yup, here are some newb questions. I did post here a while ago (about a year ago) when I had 9.2 and when I actually had more time to mess with my computer, but now, I have the 3-Download CD set of MandrakeLinux 10.1, different computer configuration and a lot less time since I have more classes, but I have a break in work atm, so I'm writing this now.

My current Linux computer configuration (old computer configuration in parenthesis): both for reference,

CPU: Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz (Athlon 700 mhz)
Memory: 512 megs RAM (512 megs Ram)
Video Card: NVidia GeForce2 MX400 (ATi Xpert 2000)
Sound Card: C-Media ...can't remember exact model, but it's built in... (SoundBlaster AWE64 ISA version)
Network Card: RealTek ...some model... 10/100 mbit card. connected to Verizon Online DSL

Now the areas I would ask for help:

1) On games which have "streaming music" and continuous sound, i experience a "painful lagging" whenever I try to play those games (e.g.: Chromium BSU, Tuxracer, etc.). The program takes a while to respond to key presses, etc.

I haven't had this problem in my old configuration, but i do have this problem now. I would suspect Soundcard problems. BTW, I've also had this problem with the new configuration on 9.2, as well.

What general steps would you people recommend that I take?

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2) In the new 10.1, when setting up ADSL connections, Mandrake shows "preset ADSL ISPs", which convenient leaves off my U.S. ISP: Verizon Online DSL. I don't see any options for setting up manually, as I know that I connect via PPPoE, etc. etc. I was able to set it up manually in 9.2 and get it working, but I'm not quite sure how to do so on 10.1, as it has preset steps, but apparantly no "manual" ADSL setup. (God forbid I have Verizon's FIOS, I'm sure that'll be even more of a pain, though FIOS probably won't come to NYC for a good while)

What steps or process would you people recommend that I take?

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Everything else, I've manage to fix or have deferred the problem atm.

I appreciate any input.

1) I believe that maybe it's your video card that may be giving you the delayed keystroke in the games you play. Check to make sure that your video card drivers are installed correctly. I do not know how to install Nvidia driver as I have an ATI card.

2) I don't know as I have Comcast cable

It's not necessarily you video card to blame, though it may be a factor.

You should start by moving the sound card to another slot in the machine.

Then updating to the latest nvidia drivers, extensively covered elsewhere.

Note the warnings about matching the kernel-source tree to the installed kernel before you begin!

Pauses, breakups, etc. are usually caused by excessive latency in a device or devces which are active at the same time.

The VERY VERY first of these that you should look at is your hard drives.

Out of the box, Mandrake 10.x DISABLES DMA for the drive.

This causes all CPU cycles to be devoted to the hard drive while data is being sent or retrieved from the drive.

This ALWAYS will cause the problems you are talking about and it also degrades Mandrake performance to a large degree.

The fix is simple, but always overlooked by newbies who are unaware of this...

edit /etc/sysconfig/harddisks and uncomment the indicated lines.

Reboot.

You should then notice a very marked improvement in overall system "smoothness", speed and your sound should stop stuttering.

Ok, I've got the internet to work on Mandrake 10.1, it was a pain in the ---. Konqueror loads pages painfully slow and I can't get that Firefox to be installed! I think I liked 9.2 better, at least internet pages loaded quickly and the setup was relatively easy. 10.1 tries to make it easier, but if you don't happen to have their "default" hardware, set up becomes needlessly complicated.

OPJose, I've tried to edit it, but it turns out that DMA is already enabled! So, I guess I can rule that out. Let me try installing an NVidia driver and see if that helps.

Re: Internet

Whaaat?

Setting up the internet should have been trivially easy (provided you are not using something a bit weird like a USB nic...)

This is done via the MCC wizard.

Re: DMA

Don't assume that this is the case.

Check it

e.g.

hdparm /dev/hda

As I said the default (unless you have explicitly edited this file) is to turn OFF DMA.

Run the above check to see if it's truely on.

Even if you enabled DMA in the BIOS Mandrake will default to PIO mode which causes the stutters..